Bet you didn't know . . .

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 16, 2003

The Koyle Dream Mine is named after John H. Koyle, an early settler of Spanish Fork.

In 1864, Koyle said he'd been told in a vision about a gold mine that would provide wealth for the local families. Koyle was the bishop of an LDS ward at the time.

Concerned about the story, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent geologist James E. Talmage to Utah County to investigate Koyle's claims.

Talmage found no evidence of precious metals where Koyle indicated they should be.

Koyle remained insistent and was released as bishop since he refused to stop trying to sell interests in the venture. Eventually, he was also excommunicated from the church.

Along the way, he spent about $30,000 to dig an 11,000-foot shaft. Koyle persuaded several people to invest in his "dream mine." Shares sold for $1.50 a share.

The mine was never found and investors lost their money.

Koyle died in 1949 without having found the elusive treasure.

Many still look for the Koyle mine today.

Source: A History of Utah County by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel